This band is a textbook example of bad luck and almost forced obscurity. Most bands I know have run into bands along the road with the same name, causing hassles, inconvenient name changes, and in extreme cases (Irate/I.R.A.T.E.), actual litigation and verbal threats. But few bands could possibly be as unlucky as Nirvana 2002, who were indeed at one point named just plain "Nirvana". What makes it even worse is that unlike the cases of Slaughter from Canada, or Incubus from Louisiana, "Seattle Nirvana" were not future accidental interlopers, but appeared out of nowhere just as "Sweden Nirvana" were really getting going. Even a brief name change to Nirvana 2002 (a reference to an earlier incarnation of the band) couldn't save face for them, and the band ended up packing it in just as Kurt Cobain and company were on top of the world. They never even played a show. And a shame too, because these guys were onto something.
This collection pulls together a handful of demos, EP's and extra goodies comprising most of Nirvana 2002's career. At the time, in the super saturated Swedish scene, this might have been pretty much standard fare. Early Death and Possessed, a little Celtic Frost, and more than a hint of that infamous Swedish chainsaw guitar tone. But looking back in 2012, this is like a breath of fresh air. No reformed emo/nu metal band members, no metalcore vocals, completely unnecessary breakdowns, slam riffs, or blast beats (i.e. every death metal band post 2000). This is plain old death metal, no frills.
As with collections of demos and rehearsal tracks, the quality swings with almost every track. "In Fell Tongues" is the most decipherable rehearsal cut, and is one of the best on the album, despite having no vocals. The first 6 tracks are the main focus of the album, all laying down a fast, vicious assault on your ears; a style that over a decade later Bloodbath would perfect and resurrect for the world to hear. For the nerds out there, there's even original mixes of the demo at the end of the album to compare, and I must say, as clear and heavy as the remixed versions are, those original demo mixes were just as raw and brutal as anything, showcasing the aforementioned Swedish guitar sound even more.
Quality over quantity here, I can't stress it enough. Though this band initially existed for only a couple of years in obscurity, I can't state enough how great this collection is, especially given the current state of metal, if you can even call it that anymore.
Also, someone find me one of the vinyl copies of this. My birthday is March 17. Just sayin.....
Staff Rating
4.50/5
User Rating
5/5
